Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

Liu Yuehua did not refuse, but he did not investigate further, because he had to take two indentured laborers to earn property fees the next day.

Kowloon, a secluded indoor photography studio.

It was mid-April 2003, and the flu was raging. Most of the major film crews in Hong Kong had stopped working, but this team, which specialized in shooting indoor still-life scenes, was rushing to finish shooting in a closed-door setting in order to meet the deadline for breach of contract.

All the staff wore thick masks, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant, vinegar, and even a hint of isatis root. Anxiety and fear were evident in everyone's eyes.

Wearing a mask, Liu Yuehua squatted in a corner, coldly observing the core team of only a dozen people.

Suddenly, he noticed a familiar figure among the models backstage who were waiting to have their photos taken and were still getting their makeup done.

Wen Yongshan, who was discovered by a talent scout last year, is now only able to make a living as a model in some print ads.

Like other girls chasing their dreams, she waits for big film offers to come her way, but she also doesn't let go of any ordinary male-male filming opportunities.

According to the original timeline, she would have had to wait two years to film Ku Ju-chi's music video, and another two years to film a cameo role in a movie.

Then, he collaborated with Anzhula Beibei to establish a streetwear brand, and gradually began to gain fame.

Liu Yuehua walked over to him and nodded.

"Your name is Wen Yongshan, right?"

Wen Yongshan was both surprised and curious. How did this person she was meeting for the first time know her?

She nodded without saying a word, while the girls next to her chattered and whispered among themselves.

"Brother Rong mentioned you to me. He saw your penis once and thought you were very talented." Liu Yuehua casually lied to the young girl.

"Wow~ Yongshan, you're going to be famous! I've seen all the GG videos you've taken!" The models around her gathered around with envy.

Liu Yuehua nodded and walked back to the film set.

Just leave a casual impression; a light, casual remark doesn't waste any effort. Kind words create good relationships.

Upon returning to the set, I saw Tang Yan and Liu Shishi dressed in heavy formal attire, being herded around like ducks by a crew assistant director named Xiong Ge.

In a panic, Xiong Ge vented all his resentment on the two mainland girls who had gotten in through connections.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm talking to you, you're from the mainland, stand up straight." Xiong Ge pointed at Tang Yan's nose and cursed through his mask.

"Stand up straight. The flu was started by you mainlanders, and now the whole of Hong Kong is affected by you. You should be grateful for the job that gives you a back view."

Xiong Ge deliberately arranged for Tang Yan and Liu Shishi to be in a poorly ventilated corner, "They'll be the background figures here. Nobody's going home until this long take is finished."

Liu Shishi was so suffocated she could hardly breathe. Tang Yan was about to get angry, but remembering Liu Yuehua's words about sleeping in a doghouse if you can't pay the property management fee, she had to suppress her anger.

Seeing the two pretty girls looking embarrassed, Xiong Ge turned to the lighting technician and complained, "These students from the mainland are such blockheads! In this awful weather, we have to waste time here for a long shot. Let's finish shooting as soon as possible..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiong Ge was kicked away by Liu Yuehua.

"What are you pretending for? What do you mean by 'brought from the mainland'?"

"And another thing? You call this shooting a long take? You're fucking risking the lives of the entire crew by burning film."

Xiong Ge struggled to his feet and saw Liu Yuehua walking over.

"I know you guys like to discriminate, looking down on others regardless of whether you're right or wrong."

"Idiots can be found everywhere, but I didn't expect your Hong Kong film crew to be so unprofessional. It's one thing for you to be an idiot, but you're also unprofessional."

"As the assistant director, don't you know how to do accounting?" Liu Yuehua said with a sneer, pointing to a section of sliding track laid out on the ground.

"In this enclosed space of just 30 square meters, you insisted on laying down tracks to shoot a long, circular shot."

"The height difference at the seam is 2 millimeters. When the machine is pushed over, the image shakes like crazy. One NG takes half an hour."

Xiong Ge was stunned for a moment, and was about to curse when Liu Yuehua stepped on his chest again.

"Lift your dog head and look at yourself. How did you even set up this lighting?"

"In such a cramped and enclosed studio, you actually used tungsten filament lights to tough it out. The temperature was so high that the actors would sweat and their makeup would come off, and the lighting was a complete mess."

"What do you know, you mainland kid?"

"All I know is that you're wasting money and murdering the entire crew," Liu Yuehua suddenly raised his voice.

He subtly amplified the worries and fears in everyone's hearts.

"These are special times. Every minute we stay in such a confined space increases our risk of infection."

"Quickly remove the track, switch to a handheld Steadicam, zoom in to 24mm at the wide-angle end, and use natural depth of field to compress the sense of space. What would normally take 3 hours to work on a lens can be done in at least 20 minutes."

"I seriously suspect you're just slacking off to earn more overtime pay. You're disregarding the safety of a dozen or so people on the crew for such a small amount of money."

The film set was deathly silent.

All the lighting technicians and photographers were dumbfounded.

Because Liu Yuehua not only pointed out the fatal scheduling error, but also accurately hit their biggest fear right now: to stop work as soon as possible to save their lives.

"Listen to him, switch hands." Behind the monitor, the director of Infinite, Ming, took off his mask and walked over, covered in sweat.

Ming had long been dissatisfied with the assistant director assigned by the leadership, and the production schedule was being dragged out extremely slowly.

Hearing Liu Yuehua's incisive and insightful solution was like grasping at a lifeline.

Ten minutes later, following Liu Yuehua's plan, the shot was completed in one take.

Wen Yongshan, who was touching up her makeup nearby, looked curiously at the director from mainland China.

Ming breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Liu Yuehua with admiration in his eyes.

"You've got a good eye, handsome guy! How about you stay and be my assistant? Salary negotiable, I guarantee you'll make a fortune!"

Under the admiring gazes of Tang Yan and Liu Shishi, Liu Yuehua shook his head indifferently.

Forget about unlimited access; can you really make a fortune that way?

However, he said matter-of-factly, "Ming-ge, you're too kind. I saved you two hours of time and avoided the risk of infection for the entire crew. There's also over 1 HKD worth of film. How about we double our wages for the three of us today? Plus a medical subsidy for working in a high-risk environment, a total of 1000 HKD? Cash is fine, thank you."

While Tang Yan and Liu Shishi weren't paying attention, Liu Yuehua secretly raised an eyebrow at Wen Yongshan, then led the two of them out.

At the entrance, Leslie Cheung's nanny van was already parked on the side of the road.

The car door opened, and Leslie Cheung waved to Liu Yuehua.

"Brother Rong, where are you taking me in such a hurry? I wasn't in such a rush last night."

"Queen Mary Hospital, Intensive Care Unit, Private Isolation Ward." Leslie Cheung's voice trembled violently. "Sister Mui, Mui Yan-fang, late-stage cervical cancer. Her condition suddenly worsened just now, and the doctor said she might not have much time left."

Liu Yuehua leaned back in his chair, his eyes shifting between light and shadow, his mind racing with calculations.

Saving lives is a minor matter; the important thing is to keep our identities hidden.

Hong Kong is a very complicated place. If I were to reveal that I can defy fate, I would probably be arrested and dissected for research.

We need to think of a way to satisfy both sides. Anita Mui has much better connections in the industry than Leslie Cheung. Her network is a valuable asset.